THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HEPATITIS VIRUS-B, VIRUS-C, AND VIRUS-D

Chronic viral hepatitis is caused mainly by chronic infection with hep atitis viruses B (HBV), C (HCV), or delta (HDV). Persons chronically i nfected with one or more of these viruses may develop chronic progress ive hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure. In addition, chronic HBV and HCV infections are major causal risk factors for hepatocellular ca rcinoma. Alcohol consumption accelerates the development of chronic li ver disease among HCV-infected individuals and may have similar effect s on persons chronically infected with HBV alone or HBV and HDV, but t he reported studies are inconsistent.